Throttle control linkage adjustment



June 24, 1958 R. w. BUELL ETAL 2,839,949

THROTTLE CONTROL LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT Filed March 12, 1956 INVENTORS RICHARD W. BUELL 0 WEBSTER A. LOBDELL GORDON W WRINN ATTORNEYS THROTTLE CONTROL LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT Richard W. Bilell, Webster A. Lobdell, and Gordon W. Wrinn, Detroit, Mich, assignors to Claude Sintz, lnc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 12, 1956 Serial NO. 570,732

7 Claims. (Cl. 74-586) This invention relates to. a fuel control system and refers more particularlyto athrottle control linkage adjustment therefor. a 1

The flow of fuelair mixture in a carburetor is ordinarily controlled by a manually operated. throttle or accelerator member which is connected to the operating lever or control arm, of the carburetor by suitable linkage. However, in the'production and assembly of motor vehicles, it is not possible to locatethe carburetor in precisely the same position on every vehicle and, hence, the distance between the carburetor and the throttle or-accelerator member varies v I H With the foregoing in mind, one object of this invention is to provide linkage forconnecting the throttleoraccelerator member to the operating lever or control arm of the carburetor which is adjustable to compensate for minor differences in the distance between the carburetor and the accelerator member. I I

Another object v.of this invention is to provide-linkage .as described above, which is composed of a relatively few simple parts and yet which is highly eifective in the performance of its intendedfunction. a

Other objects ,of the invention willbecome apparent} as the following'description proceeds especially when f considered in conjunction with theaccompany ing d ing, wherein: t t

Figure 1 is a side elevation viewof afuel c o'ntrol system including the adjustable linkage embodying the features of the present invention. t I 7 Figure 2 isla top planview of the linkage shown in, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modification.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a part of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of another modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a car buretor is indicated generally at 10 having an operating lever or control arm 12 which is movable to the right and to the left as viewed in Figure 1 to vary the flow of fuelair mixture in the carburetor. The accelerator pedal or throttle member 14 is in the form of an elongated foot operated pedal which is pivotally supported on the floor 16 of a motor vehicle, the pivotal connection being indicated at 18. A link 20 has one end pivotally connected to an car 22 carried by the pedal 14 and the other end of the link 20 is secured to an end of the linkage 24. The opposite end of the linkage 24 is connected to the control member 12.

Referring now in detail to the linkage 24, such linkage comprises the elongated elements or rods 26 and 27.

The rod 26 has an outer portion 28 of uniform circular cross section and has an inner portion 30 which is flattened to the narrow configuration illustrated. The outer end of portion 28 has a socket 32 which extends into the 'Thefintermediate portion '46 bears against theinnle side thereof. This socket has a hemispherical bottom which merges into a cylindrical portion which extends" to the outer surface of portion 28.1 A threaded shank 34 has its upper end threaded into the tappedrecess in the under side of the operating lever 12 and'ha's a ball 36 at the lower end .which is disposed in the socket 32 and which has a radius approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the hemispherical bottom surface ofithe socket. The radius of the cylindrical portion of the socket is the same as the hemispherical bottom surfaceiso that the ball maybe freely inserted into the socket and readily removed therefrom. When retained in the socket, the ball has a limited universal movement.

In Order to retain theball in the socket, a flexible resilient U-shaped sheet metal retaining sleeve or member 38 embraces the outer end ofthe rod 26... The freeends of the retaining member 38 are flared slightly as indicated at 40 and the flared portions bulge outwardly in the region of the socket. I Thebulged portions of the flared ends partially overlap thesocket to retain the ball there- I in and to enable the ball togbeinserted into and removed from the socketwith a force suflicient to expand the retainer member. It will he notedthat the shank 34 has an intermediate enlarged portion of polygonal'cross section indicated. at 42. ;By theapplication of a suitable wrench, the shank may be rotatedto thread itstupper end into or out ofthe control lever 12 without removing the ball from the socket. p v, The inner end portion .30 of rod 26 has a slot 44 .therein which is elongated in the direction of length of the rod. The inner end portion 30 isjbentat a substantialangle along a line intermediate the endsQof the slot and extendingacrosstheslot; 4 V v p The other element or r'od'27, not uniform circulancro se' section throughout its retina-amass a diameter less than the width of the slot to enable .it to beinserted in the. slot. The intermediate portion 46 pf rod 27 extends I into the slot in the 'regio'n in beyond, th b end, and the inner extremity 48 of 1 '28 isturne'd 'dbwnwatdly at right angle's' to thegiriterniediate portion 46 andextends 1 through the slot at apoint outwardly beyond [the bend. Washers 49 are'looscly sleeved 'ov'er the'eir'tremityfiS-pf rod 28. on opposite sides of the slotted inner end, portion 30'andj a nut 50 is threaded ion the end ofth'e extremity. ni

of slot 44.

The outer end extremity 52 of rod 27 is bent upwardly at right angles to the intermediate portion 46 and in the plane of the inner extremity 48. The outer end extremity 52 is connected to the link 20 in any suitable manner,

It will *be evident from the foregoing that the length of the linkage 24 may be readily varied by merely loosening the nut 50 to permit the extremity 48 to slide longitudinally in the portion of the slot outwardly of the bend. When the selected position of adjustment has been obtained, the nut 50 is tightened to press the washers 49 tightly together on opposite sides of the slotted portion 30. The intermediate portion 46 of the rod, of course, provides an abutment for the opposite side of the upper washer.

In accordance with this construction, the linkage is rigid in any position of adjustment, that is, any tendency for the rods 26 and 27 to turn or pivot relative to each other is opposed. 7

Figures 4 and 5 show a modification. The construction of Figures 4 and 5 differ from that previously described in that the Opposite sides of rod 27 are staked to provide the angularly spaced laterally outwardly projecting integral parts or tabs 60 adapted to; overlie and provide an abutment for the upper washer 49, A lock asher .61 may e provided, .andmay also be used in the construction of Figures 1-3 if desired.

The construction of Figure .6 differs from Figures 1-3 in thatjtliarodis aipset to provide an integral annular. disclikepart .filladapted to over-.lie and provide an abutment forxeplacingrtheuppenwasher 49 Again, a loekwasher 1 moysbeemployed e i rodnflflnin .Jboth. the 'iormsnof Figures 1496. .has a slot dissimilar toslot 44 butelosedat the bond as indicated at. 65.! The xbent :inner end is :formed of furcationsl which define a slot 67l-therebetween open at-the inner-tend. .Tfhe slot ,67 closely receives therod'27. Otherwise nod-M ts exactly like rodl6, The-slot 44' extends outwardlyathe same distance'and hasuhe same width as slot... and closely receives the 'bent innerend of rod 27. The part;62 has diameter greater'than the widdiof slot M -so as to extend beyond the slot at V V opposite-sides thereon i a m The slot 67 5's open at the inner end to permit assembly of-rod 27 with rod 26 when-rod 27 is staked or' upset as ia-Figurles Thewebfiiprovides reinforcement.

What we clairn'as'our invention isr 1'-A'd5'ustabl linkage for interconnecting two members including-husband second elongated elements 'havingtheir outerends respectively adapted for connection "to the members, the inner end portion of oneof said elements havinge slot therein 'elongated iii-the direction of length of said oneelemerrt and closed at both ends, said inner end portion -of saidone' elernent'heing bent at a substantial angle along a line "intermediatethe "ends of said slot and extending across ,said slot,"said"other element extending throughsaid slotin' onedirection inwardly of the bendand having a laterally turned inner" extremity extending through 'saidfs lot in the opposite direction outwardly of the bend, and'clampingmeans carried by said extremity of said other element for clamping {the latter on of adjustment t vary the 3.,Structure a'sf'de'fined n c1aim2 in which theinner surface :t'orsaid: other element.

inwhieh said plat-i1 5- see aw tr m t at.

4. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which said clamping means comprises a nut threaded on said extremity at one side of said slot, and an abutment on said extremity at the other side of said slot cooperable with said nut to clamp said slotted portion of said one element therebetween, said abutment comprising a washer directly abutting said other element outwardly of its extremity.

5. Structure as .definedin claim 1 in which said c1amping means comprises a nut threaded on said extremity at one side of said slot, and an abutment on said extremity at the other side of said slot cooperable with said nut to clamp said slotted portion of said one element therebetween, said abutment including angularly spaced integral tabs projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of said extremity.

6. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which said clamping means comprises a nut threaded on said extremity at one side of said slot, and an-abutment on'said extremity at the other side of-said slot cooper-able with said nut to clamp said slotted portion of said one element therebetween, said-abutment includingflan integral annular disclike part projecting laterally-outwardly from said extremity. A r

7. Adjustable linkage for interconnecting two members including'first and second elongated elements having outer ends respectivelyadapted-for connection to the members, the inner end-portion of one of said elements having a slot therein elongated in-the 'directionbflength of said one element, said inner end'portion of said one element being bent at a substantial angle along a line intermediate the endsof s'aid ;slfot and extending across said slotysaid other 'element extending throug'hsaid slot in one direction inwardly :ofthe bend and having a laterally turned 'inner'extremity extending through said slot in the opposite direction outwardly offtlrebendiandmeans for clamping said elements in selectedpositions loflongitudinal adjustmcntto vary thel'ength ofsai'd li Rage.

7 References Cited thefileof, thispatent UNITED STATES-PATENTS 1,231,886 Hendrix July 3,1917

. 1,239,612 MeClave' ;Q Sept. 11,11917 l,400,110" Warner .Dec. 13, l92l 1,883,020 Schultz .Oct. 18, 1932 1,923,601 ,Weaver Aug. 22, 1933 Eberhardt Apr. 18, 1950 

